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Description of the subject. Further increases in rice yield potential are generally thought to require greater biomass assimilation. This study presents a new cultivar that draws greater yield from increased harvest index (HI). Objectives. Our objective was to identify the physiological traits that are critical to the high yield of a recently developed short-duration rice cultivar Guiliangyou 2 (GLY2). Method. GLY2 and a check cultivar Yuxiangyouzhan (YXYZ) were grown in a field at the Experimental Farm of Guangxi University, Guangxi province, southern China in early and late rice-growing seasons in 2013. Grain yield, yield components, canopy characteristics including leaf area index (LAI), leaf N content (LNC), leaf area duration (LAD) and assimilation rate (NAR), biomass accumulation, and harvest index were determined for each cultivar in each season. Results. GLY2 produced 17–38% higher grain yield than YXYZ with the same growth duration. Spikelets per m2 and grain weight were higher in GLY2 than in YXYZ by 11–13% and 6–17%, respectively. GLY2 had higher LAI and LAD but lower LNC and NAR than YXYZ. As a consequence of the compensation between the canopy characteristics, there was no significant difference in biomass accumulation between the two cultivars. Harvest index of GLY2 was 13–23% higher than that of YXYZ. Large sink size, high remobilization of stored reserves and maintained biomass production after heading were responsible for the high HI of GLY2. Conclusions. Our study suggests that it is possible to increase HI together with grain yield by improving the potential sink size and the remobilization of stored reserves while maintaining high LAI and LAD in short-duration rice.

We have calculated electron backscattering coefficients, η (E p) , at primary electron energies E p of 0.1–100 keV for three elemental and intermediate atomic number solids, Cr, Co and Pd, with an up-to-date Monte Carlo simulation model. A relativistic dielectric functional approach is adopted for the calculation of the electron inelastic cross section, where several different datasets of optical energy loss function (ELF) are adopted. The calculated backscattering coefficient is found to be substantially affected by the ELF, where the influence can be seen to follow the f- and ps-sum rules and the resultant energy dependence of electron inelastic mean free path. To understand the uncertainties involved in a comparison with experimental data both the theoretical uncertainty due to the elastic cross-section model and the experimental systematic error for the contaminated surfaces are investigated. A total of 192 different scattering potentials are employed for the calculation of Mott's electron elastic cross section and this theoretical uncertainty is confirmed to be small. On the other hand, the simulation of contaminated Co and Pd surfaces with several carbonaceous atomic layers can well explain the experimental data. The present results indicate that accurate backscattering coefficient data should be either measured from fully cleaned surfaces or obtained from modern Monte Carlo theoretical calculations involving reliable optical constants data. With the recent progress in the accurate measurement of optical constants by reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy technique, constructing a reliable theoretical database of electron backscattering coefficients for clean surfaces of elemental solids is highly hopeful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yezi Chen,1,2,&ast; Xiaoqin Luo,2,3,&ast; Yun Liu,4 Yunlei Zou,1,2 Shiqi Yang,1,2 Chaoqi Liu,1,2 Yun Zhao1,2 1Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, People’s Republic of China; 2Medical College of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Medical Imaging Center, Renmin Hospital Affiliated to Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Ultrasonography, Yichang Central People’s Hospital, Yichang, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yun Zhao; Chaoqi Liu, Medical College of China Three Gorges, University, Yichang, People’s Republic of China, Email zhaoyun@ctgu.edu.cn; ctgulcq@163.comPurpose: Ultrasound nanobubbles (NBs) can kill tumor cells, mediated by their effects of cavitation and acoustic perforation through ultrasound, while as novel drug carriers, biomaterial-modified NBs release drugs at a target region. In this work, the ultrasound NBs bridged by biotin-streptavidin were prepared simultaneously to be loaded with both programmed death ligand 1 monoclonal antibody (PD-L1 mAb) and doxorubicin (DOX), which are immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and chemotherapeutic agents, to synergize immunotherapy and chemotherapy combined with sonodynamic therapy (SDT).Methods: The PD-L1 mAb/DOX NBs, using bridging affinity biotin (BRAB) technology as a bridge, were prepared by thin-film hydration and mechanical oscillation for the targeted delivery of biotinylated PD-L1 mAb and DOX. Characterization and pharmacokinetic studies of PD-L1 mAb/DOX NBs were performed in vitro and in vivo. The antitumor effect of ultrasound-mediated PD-L1 mAb/DOX-NBs was studied in the subcutaneously transplanted tumor of the H22 hepatoma model, and the mechanism of synergistic tumor repression was investigated.Results: The data of in vitro targeting experiments, contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging (CEUS), in vivo imaging of the small animals imaging system (IVIS), and frozen sections showed that PD-L1 mAb/DOX-NBs have well-targeted aggregation in the tumor. By observing tumor inhibition rate, tissue cell apoptosis, and apoptosis-related gene and protein expression, the PD-L1 mAb/DOX-NBs group showed the best immunotherapy effects, and its tumor volume and mass inhibition rates were about 69.64% and 75.97%, respectively (P < 0.01). Therefore, blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway could improve immune cells’ tumor-killing ability. Antitumor immune cytokines were further enhanced when combined with DOX-induced tumor cell apoptosis and immunogenic cell death (ICD).Conclusion: In summary, ultrasound-mediated PD-L1 mAb/DOX-NBs showed significant synergistic antitumor effects, providing a potential combined immunotherapy strategy for HCC.Keywords: ultrasound targeted nanobubble destruction, tumor immune therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, immunogenic cell death, drug delivery

Chunmei Qin,1– 3 Yiting Wang,1,2 Lijun Zhao,1,2 Junlin Zhang,1,2 Honghong Ren,1,2 Yutong Zou,1,2 Yucheng Wu,1,2 Tingli Wang,1,2 Yuancheng Zhao,1,2 Rui Zhang,1,2 Huan Xu,4 Jie Zhang,5 Mark E Cooper,6 Fang Liu1,2 1Division of Nephrology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 2Laboratory of Diabetic Kidney Disease, Centre of Diabetes and Metabolism Research, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Nephrology, Luzhou People’s Hospital, Luzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Division of Pathology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 5Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, AustraliaCorrespondence: Fang Liu, Division of Nephrology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-28-18980601214, Fax +86-28-85422335, Email liufangfh@163.comObjective: The rate of kidney function decline in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is known to differ. This study analyzed the clinicopathologic features and related risk factors affecting long-term renal survival in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients with rapid estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline.Methods: In this retrospective descriptive study, 191 DKD patients were first classified as rapid eGFR decliners and slow eGFR decliners on the basis of the median eGFR slope value (− 8.0 mL/min/1.73 m2/year). In total, 96 patients with rapid eGFR decline were included in the analyses and subsequently allocated to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and non-ESRD groups. Baseline clinicopathological data of rapid eGFR decliners were collected. Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) for progression to ESRD.Results: During a median follow-up of 25 months, 52 (54.2%) rapid eGFR decliners progressed to ESRD. These 52 rapid eGFR decliners had poorer renal function, lower hemoglobin and albumin concentrations, higher total cholesterol and baseline proteinuria levels, and more severe interstitial inflammation than those who did not progress to ESRD. After adjustment for age, gender, baseline eGFR, proteinuria, hemoglobin level, serum albumin concentration, and histopathologic parameters, multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that eGFR (HR 0.973, 95% CI 0.956– 0.989) and proteinuria (HR 1.125, 95% CI 1.030– 1.228) were associated with the increased risk of progression to ESRD.Conclusion: Higher proteinuria and lower eGFR were independent risk factors for renal progression in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes and rapid eGFR decline.Keywords: diabetic kidney disease, rapid eGFR decline, clinical, pathological, type 2 diabetes

Zehao Zheng,1,2,&ast; Renguo Guan,3,4,&ast; Yiping Zou,1,2,&ast; Zhixiang Jian,2 Ye Lin,2 Rongping Guo,3,4 Haosheng Jin2 1Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Rongping Guo, Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou, 510060, People’s Republic of China, Email guorp@sysucc.org.cn Haosheng Jin, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, 106 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou, 510060, People’s Republic of China, Email kinghaos@126.comPurpose: Our study aimed to identify inflammatory biomarkers and develop a prediction model to stratify high-risk patients for hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) recurrence after curative resection.Patients and Methods: A total of 583 eligible HBV-HCC patients with curative hepatectomy from Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (GDPH) and Sun Ya-sen University Cancer Centre (SYSUCC) were enrolled in our study. Cox proportional hazards regression was utilized to evaluate potential risk factors for disease-free survival (RFS). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was utilized to assess the discrimination performance. Calibration plots and decision curve analyses (DCA) were used to evaluate the calibration of the nomogram and the net benefit, respectively.Results: Based on the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), aspartate aminotransferase to neutrophil ratio index (ANRI), China Liver Cancer (CNLC) stage and microvascular invasion, a satisfactory nomogram was developed. The AUC of our nomogram for predicting 1-, 2-, and 3-year RFS was 0.767, 0.726, and 0.708 in the training cohort and 0.761, 0.716, and 0.715 in the validation cohort, respectively. Furthermore, our model demonstrated excellent stratification as well as clinical applicability.Conclusion: The novel nomogram showed a higher prognostic power for the RFS of HCC patients with curative hepatectomy than the CNLC, AJCC 8th edition and BCLC staging systems and may help oncologists identify high-risk HCC patients.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, inflammatory biomarkers, nomogram, recurrence-free survival

Guotai Sheng,1,&ast; Dingyang Liu,1,&ast; Maobin Kuang,1,&ast; Yanjia Zhong,2 Shuhua Zhang,3 Yang Zou3 1Cardiology Department, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Provincial, 330006, People’s Republic of China; 2Endocrinology Department, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, 330006, People’s Republic of China; 3Jiangxi Cardiovascular Research Institute, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Provincial, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors have contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yang Zou, Jiangxi Cardiovascular Research Institute, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Provincial, People’s Republic of China, Email jxyxyzy@163.comPurpose: Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the world, and its prevalence is expected to rise further. To help understand the utility of the ratio of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (NHHR) in diabetes prevention, this large-scale longitudinal cohort study aims to explore the association of NHHR with diabetes risk and compare it as a risk predictor with conventional lipid parameters.Patients and Methods: This observational study extracted data from the NAGALA longitudinal cohort study conducted in Japan between 2004 and 2015. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between NHHR and the risk of diabetes. The dose–response relationship was analyzed by restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression and the potential risk threshold was estimated. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) was used to analyze and calculate the predictive value and optimal threshold of NHHR and other conventional lipids for new-onset diabetes.Results: Of the 15,464 people aged 18– 79, 373 (2.41%) were diagnosed with new-onset diabetes during the study period, with a median age of 46 years. The sensitivity analysis based on multivariate adjustment showed that the independent positive correlation between diabetes and NHHR was stable in different populations. RCS and ROC analysis indicated that the association between NHHR and diabetes was non-linear, and the NHHR was a better marker for predicting diabetes risk than other conventional lipid parameters; Additionally, it is worth noting that an NHHR of approximately 2.74 may be the optimal threshold for intervention in diabetes risk.Conclusion: In the general population, NHHR is a better marker for predicting diabetes risk than conventional lipid parameters, and an NHHR of about 2.74 may be the optimal threshold for assessing diabetes risk.Keywords: non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, diabetes, longitudinal cohort, operator characteristic curve